Safety device for aeronautical machines



L. VAN METER, .liz. SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES. APPLICAHONFILED JUNE28, 1919.

1386,8150 PatentedAugL 9, 1921.

YSHEETS-SHEET I- powmon L, VZm Meter; J

S. L. VAN METER, JR. SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONA UTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1919.

1,386,81 5., I Patented Aug. 9, 1921..

ISHEETS-SHEET Z.

S. L. VAN METER, JR. SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERON'AUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNi 28. 1919. 1,386,815.

Patented Aug; 9, 19211.

7 SHEETSSHEET 3.

s. L. VAN METER, JR;

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICAHON FILED wnzzs, m9.

1,38 ,8 1 5, Patented Aug. 9, 19211..

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

, 4Q I 4 F 5 ,j l? l D 00 Lo 0 o o 6 o o o o o o o i o o o S. L. VANMETER, In.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28', 19l9 1,386,815., Patented Aug. 9, 1921..

TSHEETS-SHEET 5- S. L. VAN METER, In.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUN E28, 1919.

Patented A11 9, 1921 YSHEETS-SHEET 6.

1 29 "annual/g S. L. VAN METER, Jn.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 28, 19I9.

A r I L Q m M, 2 m w WM H 9. NWMQ a a E w n m Q MM L 7 t n. m m x w m REz W a 2 S S mm m U QM J E. 5 i m R Q UNHTED snares SOLOMON L. VAN METER,JR,

or Lnxme'ron, KENTUCKY.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921..

Application filed June 28, 1919. Serial No. 307,362.

To'all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SOLOMON L. VAN METER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing 'at Lexington, in thecounty of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in-Safety Devices for Aeronautical Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to safety devices for aeronautical machineswhereby the occupants of the machines can make their descent in safetyto the ground in event of accidents or other causes which might makedescent in the machines impossible or dangerous.

Greater degree of safety is now generally recognized as fundamentallyessential in the future .of aeronautics. The subject is receiving thecareful attention of inventors, and interests generally engaged in themanu- .facture and commercialization of various types of flyingmachines, particularly of aeroplanes. The various Governments are alsogiving the subject most careful attention and are cooperating in variousways to work out an erlfective solution of the problem.

In this connection my present invention is preceded by two earlierinventions relating to the same purpose but consisting of a differentarrangement of mechanical devices. These earlier inventions comprise themay consist of any suitable mechanical devices, such as compressedsprings, or compressed air or rush of air-due to ship falling, manuallycontrolled by an occupant of the machine, or controlled by suitableconnections whereby the parachutes will be cast off without anyconscious act. Such means may consist of automatic mechanism operable byan occupant jumping from the machine, or by the action of the air incase of sorbed sufliciently to avoid injury to the occupant.

A further object of the invention is to provide safety devices inconnection with the seats and body structure of the aeroplane whereby anoccupant of the machine may be removed therefrom by the parachutewithout sustaining bodily injuries.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an improved cast-offharness to be worn by an occupant of the aeroplane whereby he maybe'releasably secured to the seat of the machine and to the parachuteand -which may readily be released and cast ofl when the ground isreached to prevent inury to the occupant by being dragged over theground by the parachute.

These main objects of my invention are realized by an improvedconstruction of the various devices which are comprised in theapparatus, and by a novel arrangement of the devices whereby thefunctioning thereof relative to each other and to the apparatus as awhole is made dependable, the pos sibility of failure of the device tofunction properly under all circumstances being reduced to a minimum.

While the construction here shown is a preferred form as to theunderlying prin ciples of the invention, the details of construction andmechanical arrangement are to some extent conventional and are shown forillustration purposes only, as it will be understood that the detailsmay be widely varied without departing from the principles and spirit ofthe invention.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the aeroplane in flight andshowing'the parachute container as first cast off from the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an aeroplane on the ground equipped withmy safety devices, and having the door removed to the space in which theparachute and castingoif mechanism are contained;

Fig. 3 is a erspective view showing the aeroplane falling and the secondstage of operation, the parachute having been released from thecontainer and opened to the I air, the aviator having-been removed fromtions for releasing the parachute;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of theparachute container, showing the manner of folding the parachute andparachute spreaders within the container;

Figs. 6 and 7 are front and rear views repectively of the harness asworn by the aviator whereby he is connected to the parachute and to theseat of the aeroplane;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the guide used to protect the aviator frominjury as he 1s removed from the machine;

. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the mechanism for releasing the aviatorfrom the seat;

Fig. 10 is .a detail of the mechanism for releasing the parachutecast-ofi' mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a detail of the mechanism for releasing the parachute fromits container;

Fig. 12 is a detail view of'the parachute removed from the container andshowing the arrangement of the spring steel loops for opening theparachute to the air'when it is cast off from the aeroplane;

Fig. 13 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, of a preferredarrangement of the seat construction and combination cover for Iaeroplanes or other flying machines, requiring only modifications ofdetails of construction and arrangement to adapt the same to thedifferent types of machines. 1

As shown inthe drawings, a suitable space is provided in the fuselage ofthe. aeroplane for the parachute container and the cast-off reeaeiaseat, substantially at the center of the fuselage. The fuselage ispreferably provided with a sideopening 1 and a door 2 whereby theparachute mechanism is readily accessible. An aperture 3 is provided inthe top cover or back of the fuselage through which the parachutecontainer is projected when cast off from the machine. The aperture ispreferably covered with a piece of cloth or any suitable material havingperforated seams and a coat of aeroplane dope applied thereto, thusserving to prevent ingress of dust and moisture to the compartment, andbeing readily yieldable to the force exerted thereon when the containeris ejected from the machine. I

As best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings the parachute container consistsof a cylindrical, metal casing, a light metal such as aluminum beingpreferably used, having a conical-shaped top 4, whereby to minimizeresistance of the air when .the container is cast off; and having itscylindrical wall formed of a plurality of slats 5, hinged at their upperends adjacent the conical top 4, as at 6, and having their lower endsconfined within a bottom plate 7, whereby when the bottom is removed thehinged slats, due tothe pressure thereon from within, will openoutwardly to release the parachute, as best shown in a detail of Fig. 3.

The bottom 7 consists of an integral plate having a central base portion8 upon which the parachute parts rest when packed in the container, aperipheral flange 9 and an annular depression 10 inwardly adjacent theflange within which "the free ends of the slats 5 are confined, when thecontainer is closed. The under side of the bottom plate is depressed andhas slidably secured to the plate therein oppositely disposed springplunger bolts 11 which engage at their outer ends detents 12 formed intwo oppositeslats 5. The plungers are supported in suitable hearings onthe bottom plate and rest with their inner ends against a locking plate14 which is mounted on the plate 7 and is operable to release theplungers, and adapted to normally hold the same outwardly projected inengagement with the slats 5. \Vhen the plate 14 is operated its innerendmoves out of contact with the plungers which are then projected inwardlyby the compression springs 15, thus releasing the plungers from theslats 5, and permitting the bottom plate to fall free of the container,and the slats 5 to swing outwardly to release the parachute.

To facilitate releasing ofthe parachute from the container a compressionspring 16, confined in a cover 17 is preferably employed within the cone4, the parachute being compressed against the spring is thrown outwardlywith the expansion of the spring when the bottom plate of the containeris released, To further facilitate delivery of the parachute thecone-shaped end of the container is provided with air vanes or. fins 4which are acted upon by the air when the container is projected from themachine in a manner which causes the container more readily to assume astreamline relation to the machine and therefore directly in line forthe withdrawal and expansion of the parachute when the connecting lineis drawn taut.

The plate 23 upon which the parachute container rests is connected tothe seat and aviator releasing mechanism by a cable 19 which ispreferably inclosed in a tube 19 to prevent accidental displacementthereof. The cable is preferably operable over a small roller 2O securedto the stationary telescopic casing -21and may be connected to the plate23 in any suitable manner. The parachute is connected to a harness wornby the aviator in any suitable manner by a connecting rope or cable 18,a portion of the rope being coiled and confined preferably within theparachute container to provide for suitable distance between theparachute and the aviator when the parachute is cast off.

The parachute cast-ofl mechanism, as here shown, consists of acompression spring 20 confined within a telescopic casing 21 and '22,the lower section 21 of the'casing being secured in any suitable manneron the frame of the fuselage, and the upper section 22 1 being movablewith the springm the upward projectipn thereof. The casings 21 and 22have which serve to prevent the formation of a vacuum therein. The plate23 is secured to the upper end of the casing 22 and acts as a supportfor the parachute container and as a seat for the upper end of thespring 20.

In normal position the spring 20 is compressed and the casings 21 and 22are in the relation shown in Fig. 4, the parts being held in normalrelation by a stirrupshaped locking member 24 which is supported in theplate 23 and has its projecting ends 25 extending through the base inthe bottom of the fuselage upon which the cast-off mechanism is mounted.The projecting endsof the stirrup are notched as at 26 and are engagedin locked position by oppositely disposed latch plates 27, the innerends of the latch plates being supported by a vertically pivoted lever28 which has its free end held in raised position by a horizontallypivoted latch 29 operable from the seat of the aeroplane by a rope 30.The operation of the casting-off mechanism will presently be describedin connection with the operation of the safety devices as a whole.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the harness worn by the aviator ascontemplated in my invention may consist of the usual body belt largeopenings 21 and 22 31 having a quick releasing clasp 32. Connected tothe body belt by loop straps 33 are leg belts 34. A metal plate 35suitably covered and padded is secured to the body belt at the back;shoulder straps 36 connectt ed to the plate and looped to the body beltin front aid in supporting the plate in right positions.

Coiled on the plate 35 and secured thereto by shock resisting bindings37 isean elastic cable 18 which forms the first section of theconnecting cable 18 between the aviator and the parachute and serves toreduce the force of the shock transmitted to the aviator when theparachute is cast off and opened to the air. The shock resistingbindings 37, also act to further absorb the shock, the bindingsreleasing one after another as the connecting cable is drawn taut.

As shown in Fig. 9 the mechanism for releasing the aviator from theseat'consists of a suitable casting 39 secured to the under side of theseat and having formed at its opposite outer ends enlarged portions 40which are apertured to receive downwardly projecting aperturedextensions 41 securedto the opposite sides of the seat, and aperturedlinks 42 suspended from the harness worn by the p aviator. The aperturesin the extensions 41 and links 42 when in normal relation with the parts'40 are substantially in alinement with the spring plungers 43 and areadapted to be engaged by the outer ends of the plungers, the aviatorbeing thus securely held on the seat of the machine.

. The plungers 43 are normally held outwardly in engagement with theextensions 41 and links 42 by a locking block 44 which is secured to abolt 45- and mounted on the frame 39 betweem bearings 46 in which thebolt 45 is supported. When the locking block 44 is withdrawn out ofcontact with theplungers 43 the springs 47 act to retract the plungersout of engagement with the ears 41 and links 42, thus releasing theaviator and permitting the back of the seat to swing rearwardly, as bestshown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the seat being pivotally connected in asuitablemanner to permit of the tilting movement thereof.

To insure positive releasing of the plungers 43 from the seatconnections 41 and belt connections 42 the plungers aremounted in openbearings or guides 48, which, when the locking block 44 is withdrawn,permit the 120 inner ends of the plungers to swing clownwardly and theouter ends to be drawn upwardly until the projections 41 and links 42slip free of the plungers. The cable 19 connects the releasing block 44to the supporting 125 plate'23 of the parachute cast-off mechanism asabove described, the cable being connected to the block in any suitablemanner. Thus, with the actuation of the cast-off mechanism, by drawingon the rope 30 the plate 23 will 130 be projected upwardly by the spring20 and will act'through the cable '19 to withdraw the block 44, therebyreleasing. the aviator from the machine and permitting the seat to pivotrearwardly to accommodate the movement whereby the aviator is removedfrom the machine.

In the operation just described the releasing of the block 44 is readilyaccomplished through the pull upon the rope 19 and the pressure of thespring near the bearing 46, which togetherare more than suflicienttoovercome the pressure of the spring of the metal of which the bar 45 iscomposed. Should however, it be desired to not use automatic means forthis purpose, the rel-easing can be brought about manually, by the pilotfrom his chair. It will he observed in Fig. 4 that the rope 30terminates at the seat in a ring to which a smaller rope 30 is attachedbeing fastened at its farther end to the lower end of the latch 31pivotally mounted upon an angular piece 32' depending from the framework. Now instead of relying upon the automatic means, the operator maypull upon the rope 30 and thus swing this pivotally mounted latch 31'from its engagement with its notch in the end of the bar 45 whereuponthe pressure of the spring near the bearing 46 will be quite suflicientwithout a pull upon the rope 19, to bring about the actuation of thereleasing mechanism.

As best shown in Fig. 8, an inclined guideway 51 is provided at the rearof the seat which serves to guide the body of the aviator as he isremoved from the seat and to protect him from injury by striking thesides or projections of the machine. As above stated, when the aviatoris released from the seat, the back of the seat also is released andswings rearwardly to substantially the inclination of the guide-way 51,thus permitting the aviator to be more readily removed from the machine.

A detachable cover plate 52 is normally closed over the guide way 51 andis held in position by cords (not shown) or other suitable connectionssecured thereto which are released when the aviator is releasedifrom theseat, thus permitting the cover plate 52 to fall free of the machine.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings for operating theparachute castofl' mechanism by compressed air is for purposes ofillustration only without reference to exact details of construction, asvarious forms of pneumatically operated devices may be employed for thispurpose. As here shown, the arrangement consists of a suitablecylidrical casing 54 in which the parachute container is seated upon apiston 55 which works within the casing and normally forms the bottomthereof. The casing is further provided with an enlarged hollow base 56having an inner casing or tube '57 asaaw extending vertically throughthe center thereof and resting at its upper end against the piston 55.The piston has a stem 58 extending downwardly through the tube 57 bywhich it may be releasably secured in any suitable manner, as here shownby notches 59 formed in the end of the piston stem, to the bottom of thebase 56. The piston is further secured to the, bottom by means of aslackened cable 60 which passes through an aperture 61 at the junctureof the stem 58 with the piston, and is anchored at its opposite ends tothe bottom of the casing. Thus it will be seen that the cable will actto limit the extent of upward movement of the piston.

lVithin the base 56 any suitable means may be pror ided for containingair under pressure, which when released will act with suflicient forceto drive the piston upwardly, thereby castingv off the parachute in themanner herein described. As here shown, the means for providing the airpressure consist of an expansible circular tube 62 adapted to beinflated in the usual manner through a valve 63. A portion of the tube.when inflated rests against the piston and, when the piston isreleased. expands into the open end of the casing 54, moving the pistonupwardly until the tube blows out by expansion; the released air thenacting to drive the piston upwardly with suiticient force to cast oil?the parachute. To hasten the blow-out of the tube, sharpened projections64 may be provided atthe entrance to the casing 54 which will act topuncture the tube and release the air therein directly with theexpansion of the tube beyond normal. The stem 58 may be released fromthe bottom of the casing in any suitable manner as in the other form ofconstruction described.

To prevent the parachute container from falling through the aperture3when flying upside down, the outer spring casing 22' is provided withtwo apertures 22 arranged diametrically opposite each other in theeasing, each having a curved finger 22 cooperating therewith. ords 22secured at one end to the bottom plate 8 of the container passingthrough the steel plate 23 are looped over the fingers 22 at theiropposite ends in I a manner to be readily released with the upwardmovement of the parts when the castoif mechanism is actuated, but actingnormally to prevent displacement of the parachute oontainer in event offlying the machine upside down.

To protect the parachute parts within the container from dust andmoisture, the bottom plate 8 is preferably sealed With a cover of heavypaper 8 treated with suitable aeroplane dope to make the same imperviousto moisture. The paper covers all apertures in the plate leading intothe interior of the container, and is held in place on the plate by anexpansion ring 8 which fits into the flange of the plate.

The parachute spring expanders 18', as here shown, consist of surveyorssteel tape 'of plural strength,ab0ut four-ply being found mostsatisfactory. When the parachute is confined within thecontainer theloops of the springs are folded upwardly, as shown in Fig. 5. When theparachute is rereased these loops spring outwardly and spread theparachute at its bottom to open it to the air. The springs are securedto the parachute by suitable clips 18 which secure the springsreleasably to a cord 18 secured to the bottom edge of theparachute. Whenthe parachute is opened the clips release the cord and the springexpanders fall free of the parachute.

In the preferred construction shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the underlyingprinciple of construction and operation is essentially the same as inthe construction above described.

However, the details of arrangement and operati'on are radicallydiiferent,thedifferences consisting essentially in the means forcasting'off' the parachute and in guiding the occupant from the machine.

As best shown in Fig. 13 the turtle-back? of the fuselage isv formed ofa' tilting back which extends well toward therear of the fuselage and ishinged or pivoted to the frame thereof in any suitable manner, as at 66.The forward end of the back is pro-- vided with 'an auxiliary back 67which is pivoted to the main back 65 as at 68. When the backs 65 and 67are in normal position relative to the fuselage they may be held inplace by any suitable locking mechanism, such as is shown in one form inFig. 15 of the drawings, which is mounted in the back 65 in any suitablemanner and consists of a cam plate 69 having cam slots 7 0 disposed onopposite sides of the center thereof and cooperating with lock bolts 71operating through guides 72 and through the casing of both co,vers 65and 67 and having their ends projecting through lock plates 7 3 whichare secured to the opposite longerons 74. Thus both the backs 65 and 67will be releasably held in normal position.

To release the backs the aviator draws on a rope 75 connected to a camplate 69 bya lever 76, thus actuating the plate clockwise to withdrawthe lock bolts 71 from the plates 73 and from the back 67. When thebacks 65 and 67 are thus released, the action of the air on the back'67will cause it to rise to a position substantially at right angles to thefuselage and to the back 65. I Air pockets 77 of suitable shape andcapacity are preferably provided at the forward end of the back 67 tocause the 'air to more readily lift the cover, or rather to start thelifting or opening movement thereof. With the beginning of the openingof the back 67 lifting force due to theincreasing air pressure will beexerted'on the back 65 which will rise with a rapid movement to aposition substantially parallel with the center line or stream line ofthe tail of the machine which is of modified construction, as shown inFig. 13.

The force of contactof the back 65 with the fin 78 of the tail will actto cause the fin to break through the fabric-covered back 65, when thesame is operated to full-open position. To minimize breakage or otherdamage to the structure the fuselage is provided with a longitudinalopen space 79, extending substantially the entire length thereof, andhaving an elastic or shock absorbing element 80. of any suitablematerial interlaced between the vertical braces 81 whereby the force ofcontact will be broken.

The opening of the backs 65 and 67 may be accomplished entirely, asabove described, by the action of the air, or, if desired, mechanicaldevices such as a spring 82, connected to the cover 65 by a cable 83 maybe employed in connection with the action of the air to lift the backs.The spring may be normally compressed to any desired tenslon, thusacting to' draw the cable 83 taut, and, when the covers are released, toexert its full force through the cable to aid in the raising of thecover 65. i i

In the form of construction here shown the parachute container 84.- issecured to the back 65 and is carried upwardly therewith when the backis released to a position sufiiciently above the air plane to permit ofthe proper releasing and expanding of the parachute. The container maybe of any suitable construction whereby the parachutemay be effectuallydelivered therefrom. As here shown the container is ofthe generalconstruction shown in Fig. 5, but modified as to details. As shown. inFig. 13 the container is normally held in closed position by cords 85secured to the bottom thereof and looped at their upper ends to receiveholding fingers 86 secured to and operable 'taut when the desiredposition to release the parachute is reached, and will act to withdrawthe fingers 86 from the looped ends of the cords 85, thus permitting thebottom 88 and slats 89 to fall apart thereby to release the parachute.

An object of the preferred construction is to provide a longer guide wayfor the aviator as he is removed from the machine. To this end the guideway 96 is extended rearwardly in the fuselage substantially the ing tothe tail.

' A forms a continuation of'the guide way 90.

As shown in Fig. 13, the guide 90 ay be hinged at its rear end, as shownat 9 and connected at its front end to the base of the seat, the frontend of the guide, together with the seat and the aviator thereon, beingadapted to move upwardly to a position in which the bottom, of the guideis substantiallv parallel with the upper edge of the fuselage, thusincreasing the freedom of movement by which the aviatoris set freeof themachine by the parachute.

To cause the guide 90 and the seat, to move upwardly with the lifting ofthe back 65 any suitable leverage or lifting con nection between theback and the guide may be provided. As here shown a rearward projection92 of the back 65 may be employed which acts as a lever to engage theguide forward of its pivotal connection in the. fuselage, thus exertinglifting force thereon.

Compression springs 93 mounted on the machine frame in tubes 93 andengaging the seat on opposite sides thereof by cables 93 act further tolift the front end of the guide together with the seat and the aviatorthere on to raised position. I

In the modified construction here shown the seat back and sides are alsomounted pivotally in any suitable manner relative to the seat base, onepreferred form bemg shown in detail in Fig. 9 of the drawlngs.

Thus the back and sides of the seat when first by the action of .the airthereon, in-

creases the resistanceto the air and acts to lift the back 65, and withit the parachute container, which is opened and the 'para-.

chute released therefrom by the releasing cable 87 which acts towithdraw the releas-' ing members 86 from the looped retaining cords 85.An extension 87 of the cable 87, extends through a protecting tube 87and is connected tothe seat releasing mechanism.

Thus with the releasing of the parachute 'fering movements.

The seat releasing mechanism .to accomplish delivery of the parachuteand aviator from the machine without inter- As above stated the detailsof construction and operation herein shown and described are intendedfor illustrative purposes only,

.to show the underlying principle of my invention whlch consists 1nproviding an aeroplane or other aeronautlcal machine with a parachute ofsuitable size and .con-

struction to be carried by the machine; to be released and cast-off themachine by any suitable mechanism or force, and which, as opened to theair, acts to lift an occupant free of the machine, or to support theoccupant in theair as the machine falls or travels away from him. Toaccomplish these purposes any suitable force, such as air or mechanicaldevices or a combination of air and mechanical devices may be employedto perform the various operations of releasing the aviator and theparachute and cast-off mechanism so that the aviator may be effectuallyreleased from the machine and safely conducted to the ground.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carried bysaidmachine, and ejector mechanism coiiperating with the parachute,means for securing an aviator in said machine, connections between theaviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism tothe securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated theparachute will be cast off and said mechanism will act to release saidsecuring means and to bination, a parachute carried by said ma- -chine,and manually controlled ejector mechanism cooperating with theparachute, means for securing an aviator in said machine, connectionsbetween the aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejectormechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism isactuated the parachute will be cast oil and said mechanism, will act torelease said securing means and to free the aviator from said m'achine.

3. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a container having aparachute therein, an ejector mechanism. cotiperating with saidcontainer, means for securing an aviator in saidgmachine, connectionsbetween the aviator and the parachute and means connecting the ejectormechanism to the securing means, whereby whensaid ejector mechanism isactuated the container will be cast ofi', the securing means releasedthereby,-

and the parachute released from the container willact to remove theaviator from said machine. 5

4. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a separable containernormally closed and having a parachute disposed therein, anejectorimechanism cooperating with said container, means for securing anaviator in said machine, connections between th aviator and theparachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securingmeans, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the containerwill be cast off, the securing means released thereby and the parachutereleased from the container and opened to the air will act to re- Y movethe aviator from said machine.

bination, a parachute carried by said ma- 5. In an aeronautical machine,the combination, a container having expandible walls normally confinedto support a parachute therein, an ejector mechanism cooperatingwithsaid container, means for scour-- 'ing, an aviator in said machine,connections between the aviator and the parachute and meansconnectingthe ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby when saidejector mechanism isactuated the container.

will be cast ofi and the walls thereof expanded, the securing means willbe released thereby, and the parachute released from the container willact to remove the aviator from said machine.

6. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a container consistingof a cylindrical casing having an ejector spring compressed therein anda parachute disposed against the spring, an ejector mechanismcooperating with said container, means for securing an aviator in saidmachine, and

connections between the aviator and .the

parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securingmeans, whereby whensaid ejector mechanism is actuated the container willbe cast 03, the securing means released thereby, and the parachutereleased fromthel container by the expansion of said spring will act toremove the aviator from said machine.

7. In an aeronautical machine, the comchine and having an expandercooperating therewith, e ector mechanism cooperating with the parachute,means for securing an aviator in sa1d machine, connections be-- tweenthe aviator, and the parachute and means connecting the ejectormechanism to the securing means, whereby when said ejector mechanism isactuated the securing means will be released thereby and the parachutewill be cast (III and actuated by said expander will act to remove theaviator from said machine.

8. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a container having acollapsible posed therein,an ejector mechanism cooperating with saidcontainer, means for securing an'aviator in said machine,connections-between the aviator and the parachute and means connectingthe ejector mechanism to the securing means, wher by when said ejectormechanism is actuated the container will be cast off, the securing meanswill be actuated thereby to i'eleasethe aviator, and the parachutereleased from the container and actuated by said expander will act toremove the aviator from the machine.

9. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a container havingcylindrical walls and a cone-shaped end forming a projectile and havinga parachute disposed therein, fins on the exterior surface of the coneshaped end, an ejector mechanism cooperating with said container, meansfor securing an aviator in said machine, connections between the aviatorand the parachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to thesecuring means, whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated thecontainer will be cast oil, the securing means released thereby, and theparachute released from the container will act to remove the aviatorfrom said machine.

10. vIn an aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carried bysaid machine, ejector mechanism cooperating with nation, a parachutecarried by said machine,

ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, a seat and cast-offharness worn by an. aviator and means on said harness for secu'rin theaviator to said seat, and connections bet-ween the parachute and meansconnecting the ejector mechanismto the securing means and said harness,whereby when said ejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will becast oil' and said mechanism will act to release saidsecuring means andto free the aviator from said machine, and a quick release for saidharness whereby the same may be cast off.

12. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carried bysaid machine, ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, meansfor securing an aviator in said machine, elastic connections between theaviator and the parachute and means contween the aviator and theparachute and means connecting the ejector mechanism to the securingmeans, and a plurality of shockabsorbing fastenings securing saidconnections to said plate, whereby When said ejector mechanism isactuated the parachute will be cast off and said mechanism, will act torelease saidsecuring'means and to .free the aviator from said machineand whereby part of theshock transmitted through said connections willbe absorbed by said fastenings.

14. In an .aeronautical machine,-the combination, a parachute carried bysaid machine, ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, meansfor securing an aviator in said machine, a plate and connections betweenthe aviator and the parachute coiled on said plate and a plurality ofshock-absorbing fastenings securing said connections to said plate andmeans. connecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, wherebywhen said ejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast offand said mechanism will act to release said securing means and to freethe aviator from said machine and whereby part of the shock transmittedthrough said connections will be absorbed by said fastenings.

\ 15. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carriedby said machine, ejector mechanism cooperating with the parachute, meansfor securing an aviator in said machine, connections and a shockabsorbing element between the aviator and the parachute and meansconnecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means, whereby whensaid ejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast off andsaid mechanism will act to release said securing means andv to free theaviator from said'machine and whereby part of the shock transmittedthrough said connections will be absorbed by said fasten'ings.

16. In an/aeronautical machine, the combination, a parachute carried bysaid machine, manually controlled ejector mechanism cooperating with theparachute, means for securing an aviator in said machine, connectionbetween the aviator and the parachute and manually controlled meansconnecting the ejector mechanism to the securing means whereby whe'saidejector mechanism is actuated the parachute will be cast ofl andthe mechanism will actto releases id securing means and to free theaviator from the machine.

17. In an aeronautical machine, the combination, a arachute carried bythe machine, means for disengaging the parachute therefrom, a detachableseat, and releasing means therefor, harness worn by the aviator, linkson said harness cooperating with said releasing means to hold theaviator to the seat, manually controlled ejector mechanism cooperatingwith the parachute, an inclined guideway cooperating with the seat andmeans connecting the ejector mechanism to the means securing the aviatorto his seat, whereby the aviator may eject the'parachute and releasehimself from the machine.

18. In an aeronautical machine, the combination with a parachute carriedby the machine, a detachable seat, means to secure an aviator 1n saldseat and connections between the aviator and'the seat and theparachute,'

SOLOMON L. VAN METER, JR.

